Doll eye



Julie 30, 1959 A. BASHOVER DOLL EYE Filed Feb. '7, 1956 mvz-zzvron ALBERT BASHOVER ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 2,892,288 DOLL EYE Albert Bashover, Livingston, NJ., assignor to Margon forporation, Newark, N.J., a corporation of New ersey Application February 7, 1956, Serial No. 563,923

4 Claims. (Cl. 46-469) This invention relates to doll eyes, and more particularly individual movable or sleeping eyes for use in flexible heads.

Doll eyes have been made without lashes, but the better and more realistic eyes are provided with lashes. A hair lash may be passed through a slit above the iris of a hollow eye, and secured in position inside the eye. That construction is costly, and a more recent suggestion to reduce cost, particularly since it has become common to mold the eye itself out of a plastics material, has been to form an arcuate strip or ledge of plastic integrally with the eye at the location of the lash. One difiiculty with this construction is that the lash is rigid instead of flexible, for the eye material is hard, and another difliculty is that the lash must be painted black. One object of the present invention is to overcome these difliculties, and to provide a lash which is made of a material which is dark and flexible.

In flexible heads it is necessary to provide individual eye assemblies which are independently movable, each eye having its own operating weight. A currently favored construction is to mold the eye and its weight out of a single body of transparent plastics material. Such a weight is limited in dimension because it must afford opening and closing movement of the eye while confined within a small protective housing having a diameter only slightly greater than that of the eye. The weight must be channeled to clear the iris and pupil portions of the eye. The plastics material is quite low in specific gravity, and it is not feasible to load the material with a weighty powder to increase its specific gravity, when working with a transparent plastic.

Another problem is to secure the lash in the eye, and in accordance with further features and objects of the present invention 1 overcome the foregoing difficulties by making the lash integral with a weight, but separate from the eye. Thus the lash and weight may be made of a dark plastics material which may be flexible, thereby enhancing the realism of the lash, and which may be loaded to increase its specific gravity. This lash-weight member may be added to an eye made of a transparent plastic, and the weight may serve as a means to support the lash and to secure the same against being pulled outward from the eye.

, The transparent material of the eye may be left smooth and non-reflective at the back of the pupil area and the pupil will appear black if no light is admitted at the back. The back of the iris portion surrounding the pupil may be roughened to reflect light, and the transparent plastic may be slightly tinted, say brown or blue, to provide iris color. In accordance with the present invention the lash-weight member may be further employed to insure the desired blackness at the pupil, this being done by fitting a part of said dark or black member behind the pupil portion of the eye.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the doll eye, lash and weight elements,

2 and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a doll eye embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the lash-weight element used in the eye of Figs. 1-5;

Fig. 7 is a partially sectioned elevation showing a modification of the lash-weight element shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of an eye generally similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but having a separate lens portion;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the eye shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a section through an individual eye assembly comprising an eye and a rigid housing intended for use in a flexible doll head.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. l, the individual movable doll eye there shown comprises a hollow eye member 12 having a generally hemispherical front surface 14. It has a pupil simulation 16 and an iris simulation 18 at the front of the eye. There are pivot means, in this case trunnions 29, at the sides of the eye. The eye is ornamented with a lash 2.2, and is operated by a weight portion 24.

Referring now to Figs. 1 through 5, and considering the arrangement in greater detail, the eye 12 has an arcuate slot at 26 to receive the lash 22. The lash 22 is molded out of a dark plastics material, for example, vinyl or other material having the flexible properties of vinyl plastics. The lash is the forward part of a lash member which is enlarged inside the eye, as indicated at 28 in Fig. 2. The forward part 22 is a thin arcuately shaped strip which passes through the slot 26 and acts as the lash simulation, while the part 28 is enlarged and is incapable of passing through the slot 26. The lash will withstand abuse even by small children attempting to pull the lash from the eye.

The part 28 is preferably enlarged to provide the weight portion 24. Then the complete eye is made of only two main parts, one being the eye, and the other being the combination lash and weight elements 22, 24. The resulting weight member has advantages compared to the use of a weight molded integrally with the eye. One advantage is that it may be made of a vinyl plastics material which is heavier than the transparent plastics material used for the eye. Another is that it is dark in color, and therefore may be loaded with weighting powders. A third advantage is that it need not be concave or trough-shape on top to permit a molding core to reach the pupil portion 16 and the iris portion 18 of the eye, for the lash-weight member is separately molded and added later. In Fig. 2 it will be noted that the forward part of the lash-weight member is preferably cut away as shown with, thereby improving the action of the weight 24 for reasons described in greater detail in a co-pending application of Robert I. Prupis, Serial No. 487,095, filed February 9, 1955, and entitled, Movable Doll Eye, now Patent No. 2,828,581.

The eye here shown is of the transparent type, that is, the plastics material used is transparent, and is employed at both the pupil portion 16 and lens portion 18. Outside the iris the eye is coated white, as indicated at 32 in Figs. 1 and 4, and above the lash it is coated with a flesh color to match the color of the doll head, as is indicated at 34. The transparent plastics material is preferably slightly tinted, say brown or blue, and the back of the iris portion 18 is roughened or serrated to reflect light, thus giving the annular iris portion a brown or blue color. However, the back of the pupil portion 16 is left smooth and non-reflective, and it appears vblack if no light is admitted at the back. This construction is de scribed in greater detail in Patent No. 2,657,500 of Hans W. Samolewitz, granted November 3, 1953, and entitled Transparent Doll Eye. To help assure the desired dark appearance for the pupil the intermediate part 28 of the lash-weight combination may be designed to fit behind the pupil portion 16, as shown in Fig. 2.

The black material does not affect the iris color, for light is reflected rather than transmitted at the iris portion. In all, the lash-weight member has three main parts, a forward part in the form of a thin arcuately shaped strip 22 which passes through the lash slot 26 and acts as a lash simulation; an intermediate part 28 which fits behind or about the pupil portion 16 to cause the same to look black; and the rear part 24 which projects rearwardly from the lower part of the eye and acts as a weight member for gravitationally controlling the position of the eye.

The lash-weight member may be held in position by dimensioning the lash to have a tight frictional fit in the slot 26. In addition cement or adhesive may be employed between the eye and the weight. However, in the present case the eye member 12 is provided with an annular ridge 36 which mates with a mating groove 38 on the outside of the weight portion 24.

The configuration of the lash-weight member is better shown in Fig. 6, in which the member is shown without the eye. 22 and the intermediate portion 28 which connects the lash 22 to the weight portion 24. The intermediate part 28 is preferably enlarged and recessed, as shown at 40, to receive the pupil and iris portions of the eye member. The cutting away of material at the bottom portion forward of the trunnions is indicated at 30, and the groove 38 cooperates with the ridge 36 previously mentioned.

If desired, the lash-weight member may be additionally secured to the eye by slightly thickening the lash in front of the lash slot, or, what amounts to the same thing, by slightly undercutting the lash at the lash slot. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 7, referring to which it will be seen that the lash-weight member is like that shown in Fig. 6 in comprising a forward lash portion 42, an intermediate portion 44, and a weight portion 46. However, the lash portion 42 is slightly thickened at 48, and slightly undercut at 50 where it receives the slot of the eye. Because of the yielding or elastic nature of the material the lash may be pulled or pushed through the lash slot to assemble the parts as previously described, but when the undercut 50 snaps into position in the lash slot, it is difficult to remove the lash-weight member from the eye. This anchorage, particularly when supplemented by the interlocking fit at the groove 52 of the" weight, serves to secure the lash-weight member to the eye.

As so far described the entire eye is molded of a transparent plastics material in order to provide transparent pupil and iris portions. However, this is not essential, and the eye may be made of opaque material with a separate transparent lens inserted therein. (The pupil and iris portions are often referred to in this art as a lens.) Such a construction with a separate lens is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawing. The hollow eye member with its generally hemispherical front surface is shown at 60. If molded out of a plastics material the material may be white to simulate the eyeball, in which case the portion above the lash is painted with a flesh color, or the plastics material may have a flesh color,

which case the portion surrounding the iris below the lash is colored white. The hollow eye or shell need not be molded out of plastics material, and may be made This view shows the forward lash portion low the top of the circle defining the lens.

.an eye opehings t; The parts and 82 are seen figuration; In either case the eye has a circular openingat the front dimensioned to receive a lens generally designated 62. This is preferably molded of a transparent plastics material, and its outer portion is roughened or serrated at the back to reflect light, while its center portion is smooth to transmit light. "By using a tinted transparent material the iris may be given a brown or blue or any desired coloration without actually applying color at the back. 7

Although the lens has been referred to as circular, and the lens opening in Figs. 8 and 9 has been referredto as circular, it is customary to locate the lashslightly be- Thus the parts are more accuratelydescribed as generally circular but flattened at the top to conform to an arc of much greater radius.

The eye is provided not only with an opening for the lens but with a slot 64 for the lash. v The lash-weight, member is substantially the same as previously de'sc'ri'bed; there being a thin arcuately shaped strip 66 passing through the lash slot and acting as a lash simulation. This strip may be thickened or undercut, as shown in Fi'g.;7.

There is also an intermediate portion 68 which fi t's'behind or about the pupil portion of the lens. In the prfesnt, case the intermediate portion may serve the additional' furiaio of'ac'tingas' a seat to receive and hold the lens in position.v

The'rear part- 70 hr the lash-weight member sisars;

rearwardly from the lower part of the eye and acts' a weight member for gravitationally controlling thefp'os 'f tion of the eye. In Figs. 8 and 9 the trunnions ar replaced by pivot means in theform of holes 72 to receive a pivot pin 74. This may be preferred if the eye shell is drawnof sheet metal or is shaped outof sheet plastics material instead of beinginje'ctio'n molded. when a pivot pin f is used thelash-weight member may be stepped on shaped, as shown at- 76, to fit closely against the pin 74, thus acting as additional means to anchor the lash-weight member in the eye. If trunnions are used, the eye and white, as previously mentioned.

The eye as so far described is used within a housing, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby providing an individual eye assembly which maybe in's'eited in aso'cket in back of an eye opening in a doll head The housing shown in Fig. 10 is of the type de'scrib'ediii reater;

detail in Us. Patent No. 2,696,064 granted tewoiie r al. on December 7'; 1954, and entitled EyeAssenihly for Use in Dolls Heads. The housing compr closed rear portion 80 and a forward portion 82' having together at a joint 86. One of the housing members as open hearing slots to receive the trunnions 2 0, anatheother housing member is provided with b'earirig' surfacj's which .close off the open bearings when the member's assembled; The housing need not be described iii'gf'eat'er dt'ail it being fully described in the Wolfe et patent aforesaid. I

The, housing is made of a hard plastics material,

may, be a styrene or cellulose acetate t 'uty1'"at'eplastics" material. 'The/eyeshown in Figs. 1 through 6, is mol ed,

of a timed traiis'parent bu'ty'rat'e or styrene plastics mate;

rial. The lash-weight membernia'y be molded of a'solft" viii-yr plasfics material. The composition'of the r'holdirig powder may be modified before molding the same byfthe'.

addition of a filler powder of weighty type, thereby A touch of cement or adhesive may be applied to anchor the parts together.

soft or flexible material, for there is value in the present assembly even without flexibility. However, a yieldable material is preferred, and it may be a vinyl material, including the easily molded plastisols; it may be polyethylene; or it may be a polyamide such as nylon.

The arcuate lash strip 22 is preferably grooved with parallel grooves to better simulate lash strands, as is best shown in Fig. 5.

It is believed that the construction and method of assembly of my improved doll eye, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described the improved eye in several preferred forms, changes may be made in the structures shown, without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. An individual movable doll eye comprising a hollow eye member having a generally hemispherical front surface, pupil and iris simulations at the front of said eye, pivot means at the sides of said eye on the axis of said hemispherical surface, a lash slot over the iris, and a combination lash and weight member integrally molded out of a dark plastics material having the flexible properties of vinyl plastics, the forward part of said member being a thin strip passing through the lash slot and acting as a lash simulation, the rear part of said member being enlarged and projecting rearwardly from the lower part of the eye to act as a weight member for gravitationally controlling the position of the eye.

2. A movable doll eye comprising a hollow eye memher having a generally hemispherical front surface, said eye member being molded out of a rigid transparent plastics material tinted for eye color, an annular portion being roughened at the back for light reflection in simulation of an iris, a circular portion within said annular portion being smooth for light transmission in simulation of a pupil, pivot means at the sides of said eye, a lash slot over the iris, and a lash member integrally molded out of a dark plastics material having the flexible properties of vinyl plastics, the forward part of said member being a thin strip passing through the lash slot and acting as a lash simulation, and another enlarged part fitting behind the pupil portion to cause the same to look black and to aid in the retention of said lash simulation in position.

3. An individual movable doll eye comprising a hollow eye member having a generally hemispherical front surface, at least the lens portions of said eye member being molded out of a rigid transparent plastics material tinted for iris color, an annular lens portion being roughened at the back for light reflection in simulation of an iris, a circular lens portion within said annular portion being smooth for light transmission in simulation of a pupil, pivot means at the sides of said eye, a lash slot over the iris, and a combination lash and weight member integrally molded out of a dark plastics material, the forward part of said member being a thin strip passing through the lash slot and acting as a lash simulation, an intermediate part fitting behind the pupil portion to cause the same to look black, and the rear part of said member acting as a weight member for gravitationally controlling the position of the eye.

4. An individual movable doll eye comprising a hollow eye member having a generally hemispherical front surface, said eye member being molded out of a rigid transparent plastics material tinted for iris color, an annular portion being roughened at the back for light reflection in simulation of an iris, a circular portion within said annular portion being smooth for light transmission in simulation of a pupil, pivot means at the sides of said eye on the axis of said hemispherical surface, a lash slot over the iris, and a combination lash and weight member integrally molded out of a dark plastics material having the flexible properties of vinyl plastics, the forward part of said member being a thin strip passing through the lash slot and acting as a lash simulation, an intermediate part fitting behind the pupil portion to cause the same to look black, and the rear part of said member projecting rearwardly from the lower part of the eye to act as a weight member for gravitationally controlling the position of the eye.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,963,129 Grubman June 19, 1934 1,971,545 Tompkins Aug. 28, 1934 2,280,244 Marcus Apr. 21, 1942 2,667,013 Tommarchi et a1 J an. 26, 1954 2,700,248 Wolfe Ian. 25, 1955 2,753,660 Brudney July 10, 1956 

